LOST WOODLAND

While specific, updated annual figures for the exact acreage of wetlands lost in the UK each year are not consistently reported, data indicates that the country has lost 90% of its wetland habitats in the last 100 years.

RSPB

Key details on UK wetland loss include:

• Historical Loss: In England, 90% of freshwater wetlands have been destroyed over the past 400 years.
• Recent Trend (2006–2012): Within this period, over 1,000 hectares (roughly 2,470 acres) of wetland were converted to artificial surfaces.
• Current Status: Wetlands now cover only about 3% of the UK.
• Ongoing Destruction: Despite increased restoration efforts, wetlands continue to be degraded and lost to development, pollution, and climate change.

The Wildlife Trusts

While some studies indicate that the total extent of freshwater, wetlands, and floodplains in the UK actually increased by 25% between 1990 and 2019 due to the conversion of former quarries into artificial lakes (up to 1,330,499 hectares), conservation groups warn that the natural, high-functioning wetlands that are crucial for biodiversity and carbon storage remain under severe pressure. 

Office for National Statistics

Environmental groups such as the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) are calling for 100,000 hectares of new wetlands to be restored to help combat this long-term loss. 

features.wwt.org.uk